Toy novelty



1 1927 eb 1 1 W. o. YANCEY TOY NOVELTY Filed May 12 1926 a l m Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILIiIAM O. YANCEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

'ro Y NOVELTY.

Application filed May 12, 1926. Serial No. 108,445.

This invention relates to a toy novelty and more particularly to a plaything calculated to amuse and entertain children, although the general idea is capable of being adapted to novelties attractive to all ages of persons.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toy.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line22 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a view in vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section taken on line l.4@ of Figure 2.

The article or toy consists generally of a block or shell in which is mounted an endwise sliding body member having its end portions fashioned to resemble the head and shoulders of two dolls or miniature figures or characters including the arms which are movable relative to the body. These characters are reversed so that the heads are foremost at opposite ends of the body, to the end that when the block rests in one position in which the body is upright, one figure projects from the top side of the block while the other figure is concealed head down within the block. Similarly, by turning the block upside down, the body is shifted and the concealed figure appears and the ex posed figure is retracted.

Manifestly, numerous variations of this arrangement may be adapted both in the shape of the block and the character represented. For instance, animals or birds may be used instead of human characters, it being preferred in all cases that the figures shall be different so as to increase the interest and amusement afforded. Thus when miniature figures are used, they may represent different races or nationalities or different characters 'well known to children, such as a clown, policeman, or the like.

As disclosed in the drawings, the block 1 has the form of a solid cube, preferably made of wood, although it may be made of other suitable shape or material. So also the block may. be hollow and constructed of a sheet material such as tin or celluloid. The exterior of the block may be suitably decorated, as for instance, with letters of the alphebet, numbers, dots or fanciful figures.

The body 2 is preferably made of a solid material, such as wood, but may be also made hollow using celluloid or the like. This body is mounted within a bore 1 extending through the block and centrally with respect to'opposite faces thereof. The mid-portion 2 of the body 2 is preferably cylindric, its cross-sectional contour conforming with that of the bore, which is uniform throughout its length. At the ends of the mid-portion 2 of the 'body are the heads 3 and 1 of the figures, the adjacent portions of the body representing the shoulders and neck portions of the figures. Adjacent each of the heads 3 and 4 are pairs of arms 5, 5 and 6, 6 associated with each figure, the same being loosely pivoted to the mid-portion of the body by means of pins 7, permitting the same to swing in planes parallel to the axis of the body. To prevent the body from rotating or turning axially in the bore, there are provided on opposite sides of the mid-portion 2 of the body, square lugs 8, 8 which engage and slide in grooves 9, 9 extending along opposite sides of the bore 1. These lugs are furthermore in alignment with the pivot points of the pairs of arms 5, 5 andfi, 6 so that the grooves 9, 9 also form slots to receive the arms of each figure when the same is retracted within the block.

The body is designed to slide quite freely in the block, and hence there is some little clearance between the mid-portion 2 of the body and the bore in which it slides. However, it is preferred to apply a slight frictional resistance to the movement of -the body, sufficient to'require a slight pressure to move it. For this purpose, a small pad 10 of tape, felt or rubber, is mounted on the surface of the body between the two lugs 8, '8 and adapted to slide in contact with the surface of the bore 1.

The movement of the body 2 relative to the block 1, is limited by a flexible fastening member 11, such as tape or cord. One end of the tape is anchored in the mid-portion of the body, and the other end in the block mid-way between its top and bottom, its length being such that the body can be shifted endwise in both directions, but within limits such that the head and shoulders of one figure extend from the block when the other figure rests head downward on the surface of the table, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The fastening member likewise prevents the body from dropping or being pulled out.

The toy is preferably operated by placing it on a table with the body in vertical position, as shown in Figure 1. In this position,

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one of the figures extends from the top of the block with its arms exposed and resting on the surrounding face of the block, while the other figure is retracted into the block with its head downward in contact with the table and the arms 6, 6 extending vertically downward along the head and lying within the grooves 9, 9. By turning the block over with its opposite face resting on the table, the body is shifted endwise and the figures are reversed. It is to be noted that during this endwise movement, the outstretched arms of the disappearing figure are thrown upwardly at the sides of the head, by contact with the grooves, and are carried into the grooves in that position, while the arms of the appearing figure emerge from the grooves in upright position and then drop by gravity into outstretched position in quite a life-like manner.

In addition to the many variations that this toy may assume, still another may be mentioned. In instances where grotesque figures are used, facial protuberances in exaggerated proportions, such as ears or a nose, may be also added, these being pivotally mounted to drop from cavities in the head as the figures appear, and to recede when the figure disappears, in much the same manner as the arms.

Having set forth in detail a specific embodiment of my invention, but not with the intention of limiting it thereto, I claim:

1. A toy of the character described, comprising a block, having a bore extending therethrough. a body slidable in said bore and having figures at opposite ends thereof adapted to alternately project from opposite sides of said block as said body is shifted endwise, and a member pivotally connected with said body adjacent one end thereof, said block having a recess in alignment with the pivot of said member and adapted to receive the same when the adjacent portion of said body is retracted into said block.

2. A toy of the character described, comprising a block having a bore extending therethrough, a body slidably mounted in said bore and having figures at opposite ends thereof adapted to alternately appear and of figures arranged end to end adapted to slide endwise in said bore, and a flexible fastening member of predetermined length connected at one end with said block midway of said bore and at its opposite end intermediate the ends of said body.

4. A toy comprising a block having a bore extending therethrough, a body slidable endwise in said bore and having figures at each end thereof adapted alternately to appear in uprightpositions and disappear within said block and appearing on opposite sides of said block, said block and body having a enacting lug and groove extending parallel with the direction of sliding movement, and a member pivotally mounted on said body and in axial alignment with said groove.

5. A toy comprising a block having a bore therethrough, a body slidable endwise in said bore and having figures at each end thereof, a member associated with one of said figures and pivotally mounted on said body to swing about an axis at right angles to the direction of movement of said body, said. block having a recess in the path of the pivot point of said member and adapted. to receive the same in retracted position.

6. A toy comprising a block having a bore therethrough, a body mounted in said bore for limited endwise sliding movement therein and having figures at each end thereof and members having loose pivotal connection with said body, said block having recesses adjacent said bore and in alignment with the path of movement of the points of pivotal connection of said members with said body.

Signed at Chicago, 111., this 5th day of May, 1926.

W'ILLIAM O. YANCEY. 

